Closure for containers



Nov. 1, 1938. L., T. GRASSE CLOSURB FUR CONTAN ERS Filed June v18, 1957 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENr OFFICE a claims. (ci. 21a-ss) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in closures for containers and more particularly to improvements in a closure for bottles or other containers used for holding hypodermic solutions such as vaccine, serum or the like which must be kept p ure and free from contamination.

'Containers of this type are generally provided with closures-which permit the pointsof hypodermic needles or similar instruments to be passed therethrough into the solution, so that a portion thereof may be withdrawn. Extreme care must be taken to maintain the needles and also the closure in-an antiseptic condition. The

l5 closure includes a soft rubber 'portion through which the needle is passed and which' acts as a valve when the needle is "withdrawn to reseal the container. Q n

rAn object of the invention is to provide a closure cf the above' type wherein a relatively small part of the soft rubber closure extends through the container cap so that it may be easily sterilized and so that it is readily accessible for the needle to be passed therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the above type wherein the soft rubber portion of the closure extending through the container cap is prevented from being forced inwardly when the needle is passed therethrough so as to prevent the space between the cap and the closure from being contaminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the above type wherein the soft rubber closure and the cap may be attached v to the container as a unit.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a container with the end of a hypodermic needle extending through the closure therefor.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view, in section, showing the assembled cap and closure.

Figure 3 is a side view, in section, of both the cap and the closure before they have been assembled.

Figure 4 is a top plan viewl of the rubberlike closure.

50 Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, showing the rubberlike closure used with a modified form of cap.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a slightly modified form of closure.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularlyto Figs. 1 through 4. the container I0 maybe in the form of .a jar, bottle or other suitable container for holding a hypodermicsolution. The container vis threaded at the open endthereof to receive a .threaded skirt portion II of a. cap i2. The horizontal top portion I3 of the capis provided with a central opening I4 which is adaptedv to beclosed by a closure member I5. j The closure member I5 is of a r'ubberlike composition,v and preferably of soft rubber. The closure" I5 is disposed under the top I3 ofthe :cap IZ, and serves as a gasket or liner against which the open .end of the container is pressedtoseal vthe interior thereof. The center portion of the closure I5 is extended upwardly, as at I6, to provide a projection or button .which passes through the'opening I4 in the topof the cap I2. The upwardly projecting portion I6 is recessed as at Il and is provided with an annular shoulder portion I8,disposedabove the top I3'of the'cap I2. Centrally above the recess II,` the upwardly. projecting portion I 6 is provided with a small indentation I9 which serves as a means for locating the pointed end of the hypodermic needle.

In assembling the cap I2 and closure I5, the projection or button I6 is pressed through the opening I4 in the top of the cap so that the annular shoulder I8 overlies the upper surface of the top of the cap. The body portion of the closure member extends over the under face of the top ofthe cap and, as indicated above, serves as a gasket against which the open end of the container is pressed.

After the container I0 has been filled with the medicinal preparation, the assembled cap and closure are secured thereto. When it is desiredy to withdraw a portion of nthe contents, the point of the hypodermic needle is placedv in the small indentation I9 and then passed therethrough into the solution, a portion of which may be withdrawn. When the needle is passed through the upwardly extending portion I6, the annular shoulder I8 abutting against the outer face of the top I3 of the cap prevents the closure I5 from being depressed inwardly of the container. Thus, contamination of any space between the closure I5 and the top I3 of the cap is prevented. When the needle is withdrawn from the closure, the softV rubber composition of the closure I5 is suillciently resilient to immediately and automatically reseal the container.

As shown in Fig. 5, the rubberlike closure I5 is employed with a different form of containerl cap 20. In this instance, the cap is tamperproof and is provided with a cylindrical body portion, the lower edge 2l of which is spun under the shoulder ,of ange 22 on the bottle or container 10a.

A slightly modified form of closure lia is shown in Fig. 6. In this instance, the annular shoulder I9 is omitted from the upstanding portion I6 which extends through the opening Il in the cap.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that the upwardly extending portion I6 of the closure I5 extends through the opening i4 in the cap and is disposed above the top of the cap so that it may be readilypsterilized reach time the needle is to be passed therethrough vfor withdrawing a portion oi' the contents of the container. It will be further seen that in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the annular shoulder `i0 onthe closure i6 serves to prevent the upstanding portion Il from being depressed inwardly of ther container. In this manner, any kimpurities are prevented from gaining access between the inner surface of the top of the cap and lthe closure.

It is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement o f parts maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims. c `V`I claim: y y 1 Ai closure device for containers, comprising a cap yhaving an opening therethrough, a lsoft rubber closure Amember 'having a bodyportion serving as a gasket disposed ybetweerlthe top of said cap and the open end of the container and having a portion thereof `extending loutwardly through the opening in saidA cap kand adapted to be pierced by a hypodermic Aneedle for withdrawing a portion of the contents, means'for preventingvthe closureY member from being-forced inwardly of the Vcontainer when the hypodermic' needle ispassed therethrough,`and an external recess in the outwardly extending portion of said closuremember Afor locating the pointed end-of the hypodermic needle. Y j

2. A closure device for containers comprising a cap having 'an' opening therethrough; a closure member having a body portion disposed between the top of said cap and the open end of a container and serving as a sealing gasket, said closure member including a soft rubber portion extending through the opening in said cap, said soft rubber portion having the outer end thereof terminating immediately above the outer surface of said cap and being of reduced thickness immediately adjacent said cap in the region of the lopening therethrough for facilitating the passing therethrough of a hypodermic needle. for withdrawing a porv tion of the contents of the container, and an annular shoulder formed immediately adjacent the outer end of said soft rubber portion, said annular shoulder overlying and abutting against the outer surface of said cap for preventing the reduced outer end of said soft rubber portion from beingvforced vinwardly ofthe container when a hypodermic needle is passed therethrough.

3. A closuredevice for containers comprising a 1 cap having an opening tl'lerethrough,` a closure memberhaving a body portion disposed between the top of said cap and `the open end of a container and serving as a sealing gasket, said closure member including a soft rubber portion extending through the opening in said cap, said soft rubber portion having the :outer end thereof terminating immediately above the outer surface ofsaid cap isA and adapted to be pierced by a hypodermic needle for withdrawing a portion of thecontents of the container, said soft'rubber portion having an iny ternal recess yopeningdownwardly and extending to a point substantially in line with the upper surface of said cap for reducing the thicknessof the material through which the fhypodermic needle is passed, and an annular shoulder formed 

